Most kids look forward to summer break. The school year is over, the days are long, and there’s more time to relax, be outside, and have fun. But after a while, you will likely hear “I’m so bored” or see signs of their restlessness. Many kids who have experienced chaos, loss, or multiple significant changes might not react well to too much downtime or boredom. You can be prepared for that moment by intentionally creating a mix of fun, learning, and purpose in their summer days.
Keeping Tweens and Teens Busy with Healthy Outlets
Here are ways to keep your tween and teen grandchildren busy, and feeling good about themselves, during the long days of summer break. These ideas can keep them connected to family, community, and culture and feel anchored and safe in your care.
1. Physical Activity
Staying active helps young people feel strong and full of energy. It’s also good for their mental health. Being active outdoors connects us all to our bodies, supports our brain health, and keeps us in touch with the ground under our feet. Even just 30 minutes a day of movement can improve mood, sleep, and focus.
Some ideas include:
- Hiking, biking, or swimming—get moving in nature.
- Traditional Native games—like stickball, foot races, or archery—will combine fun, fitness, and culture.
- Outdoor chores that build strength—such as wood chopping, gardening, or mowing lawns—are great ways to stay fit and build strength. (An added bonus is that these responsibilities support the whole family unit and teach lessons about caring for each other.)
- Dance and movement such as traditional dance classes at the community center, fun new TikTok dances, or kitchen dance parties are all good ways to be active.
2. Household Chores
Helping out around the house teaches responsibility and builds life skills. We recommend that you start teaching age and stage-appropriate household chores as young as you can. If your tween or teen grandkids haven’t started helping out around the house yet, teaching them to take part in family work will help them feel more connected and confident.
- Consider trying to cook meals together. They may also be interested in planning meals or grocery lists, or even grocery shopping if they are capable.
- Cleaning and organizing. Consider assigning them a regular task, like dishes or vacuuming, or rotating jobs with siblings or other family members.
- Helping neighborhood elders with their homes or yards.
- Teaching younger siblings household tasks will build respect, patience, and leadership.
- Caring for the family garden or pets or farm animals will teach stewardship.
When approaching your tween or teen grandchild about helping around the house, let them know that these aren’t just chores to lighten your load. This is a practical way your family shows love and care for each other and takes part in something bigger than self.
3. Spend Time Together as a Family
Summer is the perfect time to slow down and reconnect as a family. With fewer school and sports events, there is more room for shared meals, storytelling, and fun. Try to set aside time daily and weekly to do things with your grandchildren (or nephews or cousins):
- Family dinners —invite everyone to help cook, set the table, and eat together.
- Game nights or movie nights—keep it simple and screen-free when possible.
- Cultural activities—attend community ceremonies, learn new traditions together, or make crafts together.
- Storytime with elders—listening to stories from grandparents or community members helps teens feel grounded and proud. If your community doesn’t offer events like this, consider how to start one or invite a respected elder to your home for a story night.
Building and supporting strong family bonds can buffer your grandchildren against the impacts of their earlier trauma. You can also increase their feelings of safety, support and connectedness.
4. Care for Mental and Emotional Health
Summer’s slower pace is a great time to pay attention to their emotional well-being. After a busy school year, your tweens and teens may feel stress, sadness, or anxiety. Others may just need a break. This is part of building their social and emotional learning. Talk with them about their feelings, building friendships, and handling challenges in healthy ways, such as:
- Daily check-ins—ask how they’re feeling and really listen.
- Journaling or art—writing or drawing is a safe way to express emotions.
- Breathing, mindfulness, and other simple moments of quiet can calm the mind.
- Therapy or talking circles—some teens may benefit from counseling, either one-on-one or in a group. Many tribal communities offer mental health programs and normalizing these activities will help them understand their feelings and ask for help when needed.
5. Stay Connected to Culture and Community
Many Native families use summer break to reconnect with traditions and cultural teachings. These experiences build pride, identity, and resilience. When tweens and teens feel connected to who they are and where they belong, they grow stronger in mind, body, and spirit. You can encourage tweens and teens to:
- Learn their language—with apps, classes, or conversations with elders.
- Take part in community events, ceremonies, or volunteer work.
- Learn from cultural community mentors—artists, dancers, drummers, or storytellers.
- Honor the land—through gardening, hiking, outdoor clubs, or helping clean up the environment.
6. Keep Learning!
Whether it’s painting, fixing bikes, cooking, or starting a small business, learning new skills helps them stay curious and confident. Ideas include:
- Reading books or graphic novels. Visit the library often for resources that interest them.
- Trying new hobbies, like painting, sewing, photography, coding, or woodworking.
- Take free online courses or video tutorials to try new skills.
- Summer jobs, apprenticeships, and even informal tasks for neighbors, like babysitting or lawn mowing build skills and confidence.
7. Make Time for Fun and Rest
Not every minute needs to be filled. Downtime is just as important as being busy. Let your tween or teen sleep in sometimes, listen to music, play games, or just be still.
Teach them – both by talking about it and by modeling – how to balance their week in a rhythm to keep summer both meaningful and enjoyable.
Make Summer Memorable and Meaningful
Your tween and teen grandchildren (or relative kids) are growing in every way—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Summer can be an opportunity to guide them with love, culture, and purpose. With a little structure and a lot of support, you can all enjoy a summer growth, joy, and connection.